New Hampshire's HB639 Shields Crypto Payments, Self-Custody, Mining

New Hampshire is one step away from enshrining broad legal protections for crypto payments, self-custody, and home mining. House Bill 639, the “Blockchain Basic Laws,” passed its last legislative hurdle last week and now sits on the governor’s desk.

Representative Keith Ammon (R) sponsored the legislation, which creates a new section of state law – RSA chapter 359-V – explicitly shielding digital asset activity from government interference. The bill does three main things. It prohibits state and local authorities from blocking or restricting crypto payments for legitimate purchases. It declares self-custody legal. And it exempts miners from money-transmitter licensing requirements.

Self-custody means holding your own private keys on a hardware or software wallet, not trusting a third party with custody. The bill says that is protected activity. Miners, whether operating from a home basement or a dedicated facility, do not need to register as money transmitters just for mining.

HB639 also establishes a blockchain dispute docket within the superior court system. Parties that consent can opt into a specialized track for blockchain-related disagreements. The bill defines key terms including digital assets, wallets, nodes, and mining, giving users and operators legal clarity that most states lack.

The bill introduced in January 2025 passed the House by April 2025, underwent Senate amendments, and was enrolled on July 1, 2026. It now awaits gubernatorial action.